The 2026 World Cup knockout stage commences this Sunday with a decisive Round of 32 match between Canada and South Africa at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The game, which begins at 8 p.m. Nigeria time, is the only scheduled event for the eighteenth day of the competition.
Canada, coached by Jesse Marsch, is the only tournament co-host playing its initial knockout round away from home. While the United States and Mexico benefit from playing on home soil, the Canadian players are using the atmosphere at the neutral venue to motivate themselves. Forward Tani Oluwaseyi mentioned that facing opposing crowds serves as a source of inspiration for the team.
A major development for Canada is the return of captain Alphonso Davies. After missing the group stage with a hamstring injury, he has been cleared to play, providing the team with a significant boost. However, the squad will be without Ismaël Koné, who has a broken leg, and the status of Stephen Eustáquio remains uncertain. Moïse Bombito is confirmed to be available for selection.
Both teams arrive at this match with similar group stage performances, each recording one win, one loss, and one draw. South Africa reached this point after defeating South Korea 1-0. The team, known as Bafana Bafana, will see Teboho Mokoena return following his suspension. Conversely, Themba Zwane will miss this match due to a red card received during the game against Mexico.
The winner of this contest will advance to a Round of 16 game in Houston on July 4, where they are set to meet either Morocco or the Netherlands.
